Abeokuta – Having felt the impact of the high cost of buy kerosene the residents of Abeokuta and its environs have lamented the scarcity and high cost of kerosene,

The residents who besiege the NNPC mega station to purchase the commodity raised alarm over the alleged persistent hike in price by the management of the station.

During a  visit to the mega station located at Abiola Way, Abeokuta on Tuesday, a disorderly crowd of customers was seen pushing themselves in a bid to purchase the cooking commodity.

Some of the residents alleged that the attendants did not follow due process in the sale of the commodity.

They alleged that a litre of kerosene was being sold between N170 and N180 as against the official rate of N50 per litre.

They claimed that only customers who purchased in bulk were given attention and allowed to buy, while the kerosene was not sold to domestic users.

“They prefer to sell to bulk buyers who buy at unofficial rate and later sell at black market rate.

A bottle of kerosene is now being sold at N200. Imagine, a 25-litre keg was sold for N7,000 this morning,” lamented Mrs Risikat Adamolekun, a housewife.

Adamolekun added, “Government should please address this problem and save us from hardship.

Another resident, who simply wished to be addressed as Moria also alleged that the attendants wait till mid-night before selling the product so as to be able to sell at unofficial rate of N180.

“These people (attendants) are just ripping off ordinary citizens, instead of them to sell kerosene during the day; they will wait till midnight before selling.

I hardly sleep these days because I want to buy kerosene. Imagine, I’ve been at this station since 3.00 a.m. and up till now I’m yet to buy kerosene,” she lamented.

It was  also gathered that the alleged hike in price of kerosene in the state had forced many residents to buy the commodity at exorbitant price.

In his reaction, the station’s Manager, Mr. Remi Laniyan, denied the allegation, saying that the station still maintained the pump price of N50 per liter.

Olaniyan said that it was not possible for the station to sell at mid-night adding that they close by 8:00p.m. to re-open the next day.